Kim R. Clawson

Experience

Kim Clawson’s career is characterized by involvement in the interdisciplinary coordination and quality assurance in the design, construction and renovation of buildings, particularly of tall or complex mixed-use projects. Mr. Clawson assists clients resolve problems in the coordination of technical issues between the various design disciplines, especially the interface of architectural, structural, and mechanical systems—with a special focus on egress, passive fire protection, code compliance (including accessibility), and building enclosure.

Prior to joining WJE, Mr. Clawson worked at the fire protection engineering firm of Jensen Hughes for five years. That experience was preceded by two decades of project management and technical leadership with distinguished Chicago architecture firms for new construction, renovation, and historic preservation projects. His project types included corporate office buildings, hospitality, residential, mixed-use, preschool, K–12, and higher education.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Fire/Life Safety/Egress and Passive Fire Protection/Peer Review

• Kingdom Tower - Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Peer review of egress systems and passive fire protection systems for the world’s tallest building *
• Little Caesars Arena - Auburn Hills, MI: Peer review of egress *
• Jabal Omar - Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Fire and life safety strategy reports for eight mixed-use complexes with sixteen towers *

 

Fire/Life Safety/Egress Assessment

• Illinois State Capitol Complex - Springfield: On-site review of egress and associated signage for ten buildings of varying use and vintage *
• Pennsylvania State University - PA: On-site review for egress and egress signage for over forty buildings on three campuses *

 

Construction Phase Services

• Global Market Square - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: QA/QC construction documents and construction phase services *
• New Kennedy-King College - Chicago, IL: QA/QC construction documents and construction phase services *
• One North Dearborn - Chicago, IL: QA/QC construction documents and construction phase services *
• GE Capital Auto Financial Services, International Headquarters - Barrington, IL: QA/QC construction documents and construction phase services *

 

Accessible Means of Egress and Accessibility

• Mississippi River Commission Building - Vicksburg, MS: Accessibility analysis for a National Register of Historic Places building *
• Saint Chrysostom Church - Chicago, IL: Accessibility analysis of historic church and school *
• University of Illinois - Chicago, IL: Area-of- rescue assistance analysis for twenty-eight-story office and classroom building, and seven-story outpatient medical building *

 

Code Development

• City of Chicago, Department of Buildings; Building Code Initiative (2009–2010) - Vice chair of Fire and Life Safety Group *
• City of Chicago, Combustible Facades Working Group (2017–2018)
• International Code Council, Elevator Lobby Study Group (2010–2012) *

* Indicates with previous firms

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, contributor to “ASHRAE Design Guide for Tall, Supertall, and Megatall Buildings”
Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings, past chair
National Fire Protection Association
Underwriters Laboratories - Architects and Designers Advisory Committee

Registrations

Certified Document Technologist
Architect in NE and WI

Education

University of Nebraska
Bachelor of Science, Architectural Studies, 1980